I think many o fus give the current White House too much credit. First, you're dealing with a President who makes decisions based on fifteen minute summaries of the issues. His advisors know that to keep him inteseted that long you have to have something catchy. Second, the current White House is a master of distraction. "What can we say this week that will take media attention away from last weeks booboo?" THe whole space initiative was spurred on by O'Neil's book and the upcoming State of the Union. They never thought past the press coverage. The NASA folk involved have probably learned that contradicting the administration means political death. In the end, each of the poor schmucks far enough down the totem pole who have to implement these edicts are the ones that are screwed. But that's OK, the White House will be worried about something else by then (the Eye of Sauron will be looking elsewhere).